Duct for current distributing systems



Aug.- 18, 1931. A|-1.'.1. l.. FRANK E-rAL.' v1,819,885

DUCT' FOR CURRENT DISTRI-BUTING SYSTEMS Filed .my 2e. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet.` l

` l 'ATTQRNEK v Aug. 1s, 1931.

H. J. L. FRANK ET AL DUCT Fon GURRENT DISTRLBUTING SYSTEMS 3 sheets-sheet 2 `Filed July 28, 1930 Aug. 18, 1931. H. J. L .,FRANK ET AL DUCT FOR CURRENT DISTRIBUTING SYSTEMS Filed July 28, 1930 3 sheets-sheet s A TTORNE Y.

Patented Aug. 18, 1931 *UNITED PATE:Nrfforrlcla:A

HARRIsoN J. L. FRANK .AND WILLIAM A. HARPER, or DETROIT. MICHIGAN, AssIGNoRs- COMPANY, or nETRoIT,` MICHIGAN, A coRPovTo BULLDOG ELECTRIC PRoDUcTs RATIoN or WEST VIRGINIA DUCT PoR CURRENT DISTRIBUTING Application led July 28,

This invention relates to current distribution systems and more particularly to means -for distributing current from one part of a factory building to another, and it is to be understood that this c ase is to be consideredl along with the copending application of Harris J .,L. Frank and William A. Harper,'Serial No. 471,382, filed July 28,

1930. This application relates to the ducts l Whichenclose the bus bars from which cur-A vices secured to cords leading from electrically driven tools. .Such installations are extremely disadvantageous in certain types of work,vespecially those therein it is neces'- sary for a factory worker, having an electrically driven tool in his hand, to go from one place to another while the tool is operating.V It'has been found desirable to providea trolley system suchl that vthe worker can move his electrically driven tool along with thework all 'the while withdrawing current-*without interruption, and without snaggingor short-circuiting the cords Any object of this invention, therefore, is'

a means from which current can betaken on the run.

A further object is a means of the character described above including tool support-- ingmeans such as arail device upon which the tool and its supports are adapted to be moved along with the work. f

Aj-further object is a current distributor including an inverted U shaped ychannel member-having `busbars therein from which currentcanl be taken, the channel member serving .pasa rail upon' which can move wheels connected to the tool in a manner to support the latter.

A further object yis a novel form of connection between bus bars enclosed in a channel member, the connection being mechani- 1930. seriar No.54i'13ai.

cally secure' and Wherever desired.

A still further object' is al current distributor of the 'type described-above provided with means to preventl insertion of the tool in any but the proper direction, whereby to prevent the tool from being subjected to improper electrical influences.

insulated,

connection between adjacent aligned sections of a current distributor system, the

ysection being mechanically and electrically efficient. A,

A still further object is a connection of the character described above which is so formed as to insure against interruptions of the electric current as it flows from one bus to another.

A still furtherfobject is a novel form of connection between adjacent ends of busl bars, one which includes male and female members adapted to prevent interruption of current low in a device as the latter lisv being moved along said b'us bars.

vA still further object is a novel form of connection between an entrance cable and a bus bar disposed in a channel or duct member, the connection being mechanically and electrically efficient.y

A still further object is a novel form of bus bar enclosing duct, one which is so formed as to provide for the ready insertion and removal of a current,v collector device and which is so formed as to prevent insertion of the v'device in direction. l

A further object is a current distributor of the type described above wherein a maX- imum clearance between parts ofopposite or different polarity is provided, this feature being desirable in such devices due to the Ipresence of dust and loose particles of conducting material. y

A still further object is a duct type distributor which is so'construc'ted that it may be made and assembled'in units thus permitting rapid assembly and fabrication of various lengths and types of installations.

Still other objects willreadily occur to those skilled in the art upon reference to A still further object is a novel form ofV any but the proper of the distributor.

` wardl f threa ed into apertures in the buses, pass- Fig. 2 is an elongated cross section View as if on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view of a section end, as if in the direction of the arrow 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a complemen- ,tary section end.

Fig. 5 is a cross section view showing the electrical and mechanical connection between an entrance cable and the distributor.

Figs. 6 and 7 show complementary ends of adjacent aligned bus bars. Y

Fig. 8 is a cross section view of a modification.

Fig. 9 is a cross section viewof another modification.

Fig. 10 is a view ofthe modification of Fig. 9 as if in the direction of the arrow 10 thereof.

Fig. 11 is a cross section view showing a mechanical and electrical connection between adjacent ends of sections like those of Fig. 9.

@lum/nel type The channel type of distributor, shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, includes a structural steel channel to whose web portion 21 is secured a structural steel angle' 22, the latter being perforated as at 23 for the reception of sultable hangers or supports (not shown) whereby the distributor may be secured'immediately below the ceiling or other overhead. surface of a factory building.

The inside of the channel is lined with an insulating fibrev channel or liner 25 secured thereto by means of bolts 26. At regularly spaced intervals there is secured to the web 21, cleats 27 made of a suitable insulating material such as wood, ber, or Vthe like, and to the under surface of the latter is secured theV insulating strip 28 under and against which are disposed the three hase bus bars 30, 31, and 32, the latter ing spaced from strip 28 by insulating washers 33, whereby it is below the level of the buses 30 and 31 for reasons to be hereinafter described.

An important feature of this inventionv is the novel form and method of connection between the parts heretofore described. Bolts 36-37 which secure the cleats 27 to the web 21 are inserted upwardly thru apertures in the cleats,strip 28 serving to hold them in place. Bolts 38, 39, 40 securing the buses to the cleats, are then inserted downthru apertures in the -latter and in thru suitably provided apertures in the strlp 28.

It will be observed that ,the cleats, the

bled toform a'unit whereupon they may be .the fiber bushings and the fiber washers y `ends thereof to secure the unit in place.A

Further, it will be seen that bolts 36. and 37 are insulated from the webs by means of It will be observed that when-once secured in place, access to any or all of the bolts from the under surface of the channel is prevented, thus eliminating any possibility of shortcircuiting or loosening of the parts.

Furthermore, it will be observed that the insulation between electrical conducting parts of opposite polarity is complete and efficient there being no loosely disposed conducting or insulating parts to interfere with proper operation of the device.

Another feature of this form of distributor resides in the connection between adjacent ends of aligned sectionsand is disclosed l best in Figs. 3 and 4. In Fig.'3 the channel end 320 is shorter than its insulating liner 325 which is inbent as shown, whereby, when channel ends 320 and 420 are brought together liner 325 will underlap liner 425, providing a lap joint which prevents exposure from within the channel of any surfaces of the latter. Bus ends 330-331-332 are also` extended beyond the end of channel 320 whereby they may be projected within the socketed ends of bus ends 430-431-432, the connection between these buses being illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 and being later described.

A strip 55 bolted, riveted, or welded to the upper surface of the web channel end 320 or integral with the T-section 22 of Fig.

1 is then secured in a similar fashion tothe web of channel end 420, mechanically securing channel ends 320 and 420, to each other and also effecting electrical connection be` tween them for grounding purposes.

In Fig. 5 there is disclosed a means for effecting electrical and mechanical connection between an entrance cable and anyone of the bus bars disposed within the channel. The cable 56 at its end is equipped with a cable lug or terminal 57 which is bolted or otherwise secured to a'connection lug 58 by means of the nut and bolt device shown at Further, it will be observed that -a con-.

siderable clearance between the bus bars and z the channel, as well as between adjacent bus y bars has been provided, these clearances `being maintained by the extremely sturdy construction of the bus bars and the cleats 27. Further, it is contemplated to secure only every third bus to the channel, in order to permit relatively slight movement of the having a terasse Y loh receiving apertures 1n the channel.

It also wlll be seen that this construction, while it permits slight flexing of the bus bars, in a vertical plane with res ct to the channel, in no way interferes withl proper current collectiomsince it is contemplated-to use therewith current collector rollers having a not inconsiderable amount of play or movement.

Lug 58 is then secured to bolts 60 by means of the complementary nuts 61 and 62 between which it is clamped, the lower end 630i bolt being threaded into a bus `3 0 'as' shown, there bein a libersleeve or tube 64 surrounding the lt 60 an clamped be- .tween the bus 30 and the lower nut 62, the

sleeve 64 serving to insulate the bolt 60 from the web 21 of the channel 20 as shown.

jThe novel form ofconnection between complementary ends of adjacent ,aligned bus ars, illustratedA in Figs. 6 and 7 ,comprises a 'male member 66 secured by welding to the end of the bus bar 320 the Vlatter being scarfed at 67 for purposes to be described. The bus bar end 420 is provided with a channel member 68 secured thereto on the side thereof by bolts or bv welding, as desired, the bus 420 being scarfed as at 69 in the same direction as is scarfed the bus 320. The

`male member 66 is inserted in the channel 68,` its end being pointed as at 70 to facilitate such insertion, until scarves 67 and 69 abut or are'adjacent -each other on their lvertical surface.

In this man-ner channel ends 320 and 420 .overlap and underlapeach other,whereby current flow from one to the other is eii'ected without interruption and whereby the current collector, which engages the buses on their smooth surface, can pass from bus end 320'to bus end 420 without having its current collection interrupted even for a moment, the" l collector being in contact with bus end 320 or bus end 420 or both at all times during its travel from 'one to the other.

Further, by virtue of the flat angle or scarfed formation of the bus bar ends, alined bars may be spaced apart for even a considerable distance withoutcreating such a gap as will cause a roller passingtheref over 'to be bumped, the scarves causlng a roller to be in supported engagement with one or the other o the bus bars at all times. Duct types In Fig. 8 there is disclosed a distributor including a metallic duct 72 substantially to the rigid channel,"

rectangular in cross section and provided with an asymmetrical?y disposed slot 73 thru whichy ma exten the handle 74 secured to the col ector head 75. To the duct, on the under surface of the top thereof, buses 77 and 78 are 'secured by .means of the bol'ts 79 and 80, the latter being insulated from the duct by means of insulatf ing bushings 81 and l82, there being an inV sulating strip 83 between the buses and duct 72. Also inside the duct but to the .top surface of the bottom portion thereof are secured buses 85 and 86, the bus 85 bei insulated from the duct 72'by the 'strip 187 'and its securing 'bolts 88 being insulated from the duct by the bushings 89. Bus 86, however, is permitted'to'electrically contact the duct 72 for grounding purposes, there` being an uninsulated bolt 90 'which secures the bus 86 tothe duct. l 'It is to be understood that buses 77, 78, and 85 are three phase buses, andbus 86 is a; grounding bus.

Another form of duct' type. of distributor,

illustrated in Figs. 9 to, 1-1` inclusive, includes a metallic duct -92 which is adapted to be secured to an overhead surfacey by means of the stirrups and hangers 93 disposed at spaced intervalsalong the duct. The latter is slotted'in its lower surface as at V94, edge.

950i the slot bein flanged inwardly, and edge 96 being also ange but for a considerably greater distance than is edge 95, forv purposes to be described.-

Secured `within the duct by mealisl and in a manner resembling the securing means of the form ofFig. 8 and therefore not spe-v ciiically described, are buses. 100-101--102 and 103 inclusive, the three hase buses 10G-,-`

101-102 being insulated` romthe ductr 92 and the grounding bus 103 being in elec trical. contact with the duct 92 as shown, the .ends of all of the buses being scarfed as shown at 104 Fig. 10, for reasons previousl describe l In ig. 11 there is shown a connection between adjacent sectionsof duct, the connection including a metallic strip 106 which isbolted to adjacent buses 101 b means of bolts 107, the latterbeing insu ated from l the duct b the liber tubes 108 and 109. Adjacent en s of the ducts are connected by means ofthe lap joint disclosed in Fig. 11 andwhich is created Aby enlargin an end of one duct so that it overlaps an receives anend of 'its neighbor, as shown at 110. If desired, an insulating shieldl 112 may be securedto the strip 106 by means off/thel bolt 113 whereby electrical .exposure of thestrip is prevented;

VUse k The modus operandi .or use of the dis- -tributor'disclosed will now be described.

The distributor o Fig. "1, namely, the, channel type, isadapted to be usedA with 'a collector having wheels at 120 which ride on the top surface of the web 21, the collector having rollers at 121 which engage the flanges of channel 2() to prevent sideV sway or thrust, the collectors also having a plurality of roller contacts 122-123-124 which roll along the under surface of busses 30-31-32 respectively, gathering current therefrom and leading it to cables disposed on the collector, and not shown.

It lwill be observed that bus bar 32 and collector 124 are displaced with respect to thel corresponding buses and collectors for insuring proper insertion of 'the collector in the channel. For example, if the collector be inserted in the channel with its contact 122 under bus 32no damage will be done since the remaining contacts are out of engagement with the remaining buses and since no circuit is completed `thru the,

device fed by the collector. It is impossible for the collector to be left in this position since the rollers 120 will not come to rest upon the web 2l and the operator of the collector will, therefore, immediately see that he has inserted it in its wrong position and will rotate it' 180 degrees on'its vertical axis until contact 124 is beneath bus 32 whereupon the parts will come together in the proper manner. l In this waythe feeding of current to the device to be operated in an improper direction is made impossible. Further, displacement of a bus bar prevents the insertion of a multi (three) phase current collector in such a position that it will be single-phased, since in reversed osition,

a collector can change but4 one namely the lower bar 32.

.The duct type shown in Fig. 8 is useful practically with installation re uiring small currents and/or low voltage. n this type of device the collector is inserted from an open end of the duct or from an enlarged -opening in the bottom and is then moved endwise until it enters a duct 72, its handle 74 projecting downwardly thru the slot 73 and' its contacts 126-127-128-129 engaging buses 77--78-85-86 respectively.

It will be observed that bus 86 is displaced with respect to bus in such a manneras to insure the insertion of the collector 75 in the duct in the proper direction whereby proper current iow will be insured, in a. manner resembling that used in the form of Fin'. 1.

'he duct type illustrated in Fig. '9 is use-V ful with collectors of the character disclosed at 132. the latter comprisine' two separable us bar,

, halves I133 and 134, each of W ich is provided with contacts 135, 136, 137, and 138 as shown, and collector 132 being provided with spring means 139 which will cause separation of the halves and engagement` of the contacts 135 etc. with the corresponding buses.

In this form also there is provided means 18() degrees. In order toprevent insertion of the collector 132 from the wrong side of the duct, that is to say, from the right hand side of Fig. 9, the flan e 96 is extended` a considerable distance w ereas iiange is cut off very close to the lower edge of theA duct.

It will be observed that the vertical axis of the head of collector 75 of the duct l72 and of the buses 77, 78, 85, and 86 is offset with respect to the axis of the handle 74, thus preventing improper rotation of the collector 75 and insuring contact 129 'being' disposed immediately above bus 86.

While only three modifications of the distribtion system have been shown and described, it is observed that many. other mozlifications of the same can be made and it is to be understood that the scope of -this invention is to be measured only by the appended claims and not by the foregoing description.

For example, referring to Flg. 8, duct 72 may be provided with a slot in its vertical side Wall to replacethe slot in its lower wall,

the collector being more or less L-shaped in cross section whereby it can be accomodated by the duct. Further, the channel of Fig. 1 may be replaced b an I-beam or any other structural shape w ich will be found useful in this connection. Further, other connection means may be found useful with the device and other collectors may be used if desired.

Now having described the-invention and the preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the said invention is to be limited, not to the specific details herein set forth but only by the scope of the claims which follow:

l. In a current distribution system, current distributing means comprising an elongated, inverted U-shaped metallic channel member, an insulatin,f ,r liner therefor.

v spaced insulating supports Vin and bolted to cealed by the latter.

l of aligned elongated inverted U Shaped distributing means ,comprising an elongated, inverted U shaped metallic channel member, an insulating liner therefor, s aced insulating cleats in and bolted'to sai channel, and bus bars bolted to said cleats, the heads of the bus bars securing bolts being disposed between said cleats and said channel to be `con- 4. In current distribution systems, current distributing means comprising an elongated,

inverted U shaped channel member, bus bars in said member adapted to be engaged by ycurrent collectors therebeneath, the top surfacel and the side flanges ofsaid channel serving as means along which said current collectors can be moved and supported against downward movement.

5. In acurrent distribution system, current distributing means comprising an elongated inverted U shaped channel member, bus bars in said member adapted'to be engaged by current collectors therebeneath, one lof said bus bars being displaced from the remainin bus bars. so as to prevent insertion .of sai l5 collectors in said channel' in any but one desired position.

6. In a current distribution system, a pair channels lined with insulation and containing aligned velongated bus bars, means for nieclianicall andA electrically connecting said channels` andbus bars, said means comprising a strap member bolted atadjacent endsto the tops of said channels, and bus bar. couplings, none of whose parts are below the level of said bus bars.

7. In a current distribution system, apair of aligned elon ated inverted U shaped channels lined witi insulation and Acontaining aligned elongated bus bars, means-for mechanicallyv and electrically connecting said channels and bus bars; said means comprising a strap member boltedat adjacent ends to the tops of said channels, and bus bar .couplings none of whose parts are below the level of said bus bars, the bus bar couplings lapping the ends of adjacent bars, whereby current interruptions are avoided,r

8. A bus 'bar joint adapted to prevent interruptions of electrical flow in a collector as the latter is being passed from one bus bar to another, comprising aligned adjacent and complementary scarfed bus bar ends, a male member secured to one of 'said bus bars) on the non-collecting surface thereof, and a female member secured to the other of said bars away from the collecting surface thereof, said female member being so shaped as'to receive said male member when the bus bars are brought together.

9. In a current distributing system, cur- 'rent distributing\means comprising a duct substantially rectangular in cross section, one of the sides of the duct havin an elongated slot asyminetrcal'l'y dispose kwith rebeing wide enough to permit the insertionof a current collector into the duct thru the slot, improper insertion of a current collector beingprevented by the asymmetrical disposition of the slot. 1

10. In a current distributing system, current distributing means` comprising a duct substantially yre'ctan ular inf cross section, one of the sides ofte duct havin an elon gated slot asymmetrically dispose: with re# pct to the central axis of the duct, the slot ing wide enough to permit the insertion of a current collector into the duct thru the slot, improper insertion of a current collector being` prevented by the asymmetrical disposition of the slot, said bus bars havin smooth surfaces forming rails upon whic said collector may move. A

11. In a current distribution system, current distributing means comprising a lduct,

substantially rectangular in cross section,

'and having a slot asymmetrically disposed with repect to the duct, and bus barsidisposed in said duct on opposite sides of vsaid slot, whereby improper insertion in Said duct of a current collector is revented, one ofsaid bus bars being olf theevel of the remaining bus bars to form additional means to prevent improper insertion of said bus` bars.

12. In a current distribution system, current distributing means including a duct having an elongated slot in its bottom wall thru which may be inserted and thru which travels a current collector whose head is disposed in said duct and whose handle rojects downwardly thru said slot, and a p urality of bus bars disposed in said duct on insulated Wall, portions thereof.

13. In a current distribution' system, current distributin means including a duct havin a wide e ongat'ed slot in its bottom wall t ru which may be inserted yand thru which travels a current collector whose head lll travelsv a current collector whose head is disposed in said duct-and whose handle projects downwardly thru said slot, and a plurality of bus/bars disposed in said duct on insulated wall portions thereof, a flange on one edge of'said slot "adapted, to prevent improper insertion of said collector in said duct.

15. In a current distribution (slystem a p lurality of aligned elongated. ucts having lil elongated bus bars therein, and means for electrically and mechanically connecting said ducts and bus bars, said means including metallic bolts threaded in adjacent ends of aligned bars and thru insulated apertures f in said ducts, and a strap secured to said bolts and electrically connecting them, there being an insulating shield for said strap.

16. In a current distribution system, current distributing means comprising an elongated, inverted U shaped metallic channel member, an insulating liner therefor, spaced insulating cleats in and bolted to said channel, bus bars bolted to said cleats, and means between said bus bars and said cleats covering and concealing the heads of the cleat securing bolts, the heads of the bus bar securing bolts being disposed between said cleats and said channel to be concealed by the latter.

17. In a current distribution system, a pair of aligned elongated inverted U shaped channels lined with insulation and containing aligned elongated bus bars, means for mechanically .and electrically connecting said channels and bus bars, said means comprising a strap member bolted at adjacent ends to the tops of said channels, and bus bar couplings none of whose parts are below i the level of said bus bars, the lining of one of said sections being extended whereby it forms a lap joint with the lining of the adjacent section.

18. In a current distribution system, a pair of aligned elongated inverted U shaped of, said female member being so shaped as to receive said malev member when the bus bars are brought together,said male member being of the same cross section as the bus to which it is secured.

21. A bus bar joint adaptedI to prevent interruptions of electrical flow in a collector as the latter is being passed from one bus bar to another, comprising aligned adjacent and complementary scarfed bus bar ends, a male member secured to one of said bus bars on the non-collecting surface thereof, and a female member secured to the other of-said bars away from the collecting surface therechannels lined with insulation and containing aligned elongated bus bars, means for mechanically and electrically connecting said channels and bus bars, said means comprising a strap member bolted at adjacent ends 'to the tops of said channels, and bus bar couplings none of whose parts are below the level of said bus bars, the bus bar ends j being scarfed so as to prevent interruptions of.. current flow as a collector passes from one to the other of said bars.

19. Means for creating electrical connec` and complementary scarfed bus bar ends, ay

male member secured toone of said bus bars on the non-collecting surface thereof, and a female member secured to the other of said bars away from the collecting surface there- 

